Valve for steam-pressing machines



H. E. COHEN VALVE FOR STEAM PRESSING MACHINES May 29, 1928:

Filed Aug. '7, 1926 2 SheetsSheet l gvwembo'c HYM/I/V E COHEN May 29, 1928.

H. E. COHEN VALVE FfOR STEAM PRESSING MACHINES Filed Aug. '7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HYMAN E COHEN Patented May 29, 1928 UNITED STATES 1 1,671,178 PATENT OFFICE.

HYMAN E. COHEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

v VALVE FOR.STEAM-PRESSING MACHINES.

Application filed August 7, 1926. Serial No. 127,774.

wall, that is provided with an opening through which the stem of the valve extends, and operating mechanism for the valve is connected with the stem.

Packing is necessarily usedin connection withthe stem to make a tight joint, and because of the high pressure Within the chamber, the packing must be extremely tight, otherwise there will be waste of. the fluid under pressure.

\Vhen so packed, the friction between the stem and the packing restricts the free 0 eration of the valve both in opening an in closing. Furthermore the packing quickly deteriorates. so that the joint is 'no longer tight, and frequent renewals are necessary.

In pressing machines of the character in question, both the head and-the buck of the machine are provided with a steam chamber or jacket for heating the same, and in order that the steam may be applied directly to the garment. during pressing, the head, and the buck also if desired, is provided with a second chamber having an outer perforate well covered with cloth, the cloth engaging the garment during pressing. The steam is applied to the garment thro1 1gh the perforations of the wall and through the cloth.

Valve mechanism is provided, operable at will, for admitting steam from the heating chamber, or from the source directly to the perforate wall chamber, so that at a selected time steam may be admitted to such chamber. The valve is usually spring biased to closed position.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision in a machine of the character in question of a. normally closed valve arranged Within a casing, with operating mechanism therefor outside the casing. and separated from the valve by an imperforate partition or wall, the wall being flexible to enable operation of the valve by the operating mechanism without direct connection between the parts.

Another object is the provision of a valve adapted and arranged to control the flow of steam or other gas under pressure from the heating chamber or other source to the per for-ate wall chamber and capable of operation in the manner above specified.

A further object is to provide a simple, efiicient and inexpensive construction, Wherem packing of all sorts is substantially elimi nated. With these and other objects in view the invention consistsin the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part hereof Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the buck and head of a pressing machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the valve.

Figures 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively of Fig. 2.

In the present embodiment of the invention the head 1 and the buck 2 of thepressmg machine are of usual construction, each being chambered as shown at 1" for the head, the chamber of the buck being of similar construction. The chambers are supplied with live steam from any suitable source, and the head has a species of dome 3 at approximately the middle point thereof.

Both head and buck are provided with the improved valve, and that in connection with the head will be described in detail, it bein understood ,that the valve of the buck is o substantially the same construction, and arranged in substantially the same manner. The improved valve includes a casing 4 extending through the dome, and threadedly engaged with a nipple 5.0n the lower wall of the head, the casing extending through the steam chamber 1. 7

Within the casing longitudinal passages 6 and 7 are provided the passage 6 communicating with the'dome, and the passage 7 communicating with thesteam s ra in chamber, that is the space between the ii ead and the perforate wall 2.

The passages 6 and 7 communicate near the outer end of the casing through a port 8 so that when the port is open, steam may pass from the chamber 1", through the passage 6, the port 8, and the passage 7 to the space betweenv the perforate plate and the lower face of the head.

This port is normally closed by a Valve composed of a cup shaped member 9 having in the cup thereof a disk 10 of suitable material, such for instance as packin which is adapted to engage an annular r1 or seat 11 encircling the port, in the passage 6. The disk 10 is held to the member, 9 by a headed screw threaded member 12.

This member passes through the disk and has threaded engagement with the cup shaped member 9, the head 12 of the member moving in the port 8 and guiding the valve. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noticed that the head of the headed member 12 does not fill the port, so that there is ample space for the passage of the steam when the valve is open.

The member 9 has a tubular extension 13 engaging within a chambered nut 14, having threaded engagement with a n1pp1e l5 in the side wall of the casing. A coil spring 16 is arranged within the tubular extension, between the valve and the nut, and the spring acts normally to seat the valve. The relativesize of the opening through then1pple 15 and the valve are such that when the nut is removed the valve and associated parts may be withdrawn through the nipple.

An opening 17 is provided in the wall of the casing opposite the nlpple 15, and in alinement therewith, and this opening is engaged by a plug 18, the plug having a threaded portion engaging within the opening. The plug also has an opening 19 coaxial with the valve, for the passage of a stem 20.

The outer end of the plug is flared and slightly cup shaped as shown at 21, providing one section of a diaphragm chamber. The other section of the chamber is constituted by a diaphragm 22, which is held to the edge of the flaring portion of the plug by a ring 23. The ring 23 engages outer- 7 side of the diaphragm, and a packlng ring 24 is arranged between the diaphragm and the flared portion of the plug. Screws 25 are passed through the rings and have threaded connection with the plug.

The ends of the stem are rounded as shown, one end bearing against the head of the headed member 12, and the other against the center of the diaphragm 2 2. It will be obvious that when the diaphragm is flexed inwardly the stem will be moved longitudinally. The diaphragm is flexed in one direction by means of a lever 26. This lever is pivoted intermediate its ends at 27 to the ring 23. and the lever extends radially of the diaphragm. The end of the lever hasa projection 28 which bears against the center of the diaphragm directly opposite the end of the stem 20.

A handle 29 is pivoted to a bracket arm 30 on the valve casing, and a link 31 connects the handle with the outer end of the lever 26. The link and the handle form a toggle connection between the arm 30 and the lever 26, so arranged that when the toggle is moved toward straight position the diaphragm will be flexed inwardly, the stem moved longitudinally, and the valve opened.

It will be evident from the description that the casing is of impcrt'orate construction and has what is in effect a flexible wall, or a wall having a flexible portion, namely that part constituted by the diaphragm 22. The valve is spring urged to closed position, and it is opened by the flexing of the dia phragm in one direction.

The valveis so constructed that it may be used for the supply of steam to the steam spraying chamber. lVith this object in view the upper end of the valve casing is shaped into an internally threaded nipple 32, and this nipple communicates with the ,passa e Gandunay communicate with the passage a removable closure for a port between the nipple and the passage 7 being provided as indicated at 7. In the present instance the nipple is adapted to be connected with a source of steam supply, so that the steamwill flow through the passage 6 to the steam or heating chamber. By removing the 010- i be connected with a source of fluid under pressurc,.as for 1nst-ance compressed air, a blast of which may be admittedat the end of the pressing operation to drive out the steam. Or instead of compressed air a vacuum may be used for substantially the same purpose. hen the chamber 1 is supplied with steam directly, the nipple 32 may be closed by a threaded plug indicated at 32*.

Referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the passages 6 and 7 are so shaped in cross section as to give the largest possible capacity for the size of the casing. That is the passages are segmental in cross section arranged with their flat sides adjacent and parallel. The arrangement. alsmgnables the partition wall between the passages to be as strongly made as possible.

The valve connected with the buck is of the same construction as that shown forthe head, butusually operated by a treadle, which is connected to the toggle by a link It will be noticed that thearrangement ot the valve is such that when the steam supply is connected with the nipple 32. there is no impediment to the passage of the steam directly to the heating machine.

It will be apparent "from the drawing and description that the diaphragm when em ploycd serves as a seal to prevent escape of fluid at. this point, and that so far as valve operation is concerned, the lever 26 might directly engage the pin 20. The diaphragm lift in no way interferes with the cooperation of thelever and the pin, and is merely one of the moving elements or abutments between the lever and the valve.

lVhat is claimed as new is:

1. In combination with a normally closed valve for controlling fluid under pressure lines, a chamber having an imperforate closing wall housing the valve, and having a portion of the wall flexible, means outside the chamber engaging said portion to flex the same, and means whereby the flexing of the said portion in one direct-ion will open the valve, the flexing means including a pivoted lever bearing at one end against the flexible portion of the wall, and

toggle mechanism in connection with -the other end for swinging the lever.

In combination, a *asing, a normally closed valve in the casing, said casing having a flexible diaphragm closing one end thereof, a stem extending between the valve and the diaphragm, and means outside the casing engaging-the diaphragm to open the valve, said means including a pivoted lever hearing at one end against the diaphragm, and Itoggle mechanism in connection with the other end for swinging the lever.

In combination, a casing,- a normally closed valve in the casing, and means outside the casing to open the valve, said means including a pivoted lever, means between one end of the lever and the valve for opening the valve when the lever is swung in one direction, and toggle mechanism in connection with the other end for moving the lever to open the valve when the toggle is straightened.

4. A valve for controlling fluid under pressure lines to a pressing machine, including a casing having a plurality of passages for connection with the several chambers of the buck or head of the machine, a port between the passages, an inlet nipple communicating with one of the passages, means adapted to close the inlet end of said nipple, a port for connecting said nipple with the other passage, and means adapted to close said port, a valve in the casing normally closing the port between said passages, operating mechanism for the valve outside the casing, said casing having an imperforate wall between the valve and the operating mechanism, and means in connection with the wall enabling operation of the valve by the operating mechanism 'Without direct connection.

5. In combination, a casing having inlet and outlet passages for fluid under pressure arranged alongside each other, and communicating within the casing, a normally closed valve controlling the communication" and arranged to be held on its seat by the pressure in the inlet passage, operating means for opening the valve including a lever, toggle mechanismv for swinging the lever, the casing wall having a flexible portion against which the lever bears, and means for transmitting movement of the flexible portion to the valve to open the same.

6. In combination, a casing having a plurality of longitudinal passages opening at one end of the casing and having a port liet'ween the passages near the opposite end. a valve in one ot-the passages for closing the port, a spring normally seating the valve, and mechanism having guided movement in the casing at the opposite side of the port in line with the valve for opening the same.

7. In combination, a casing having a plurality of longitudinal passages opening at one end of the casing and having a port between the passages near the opposite end. a valve in one of the passages for closing the port, a spring normally seating the valve, and mechanism having guided movement in the casing at the opposite side of the, port in line with the valve for opening the same, said mechanism including a longitudinally movable member engaging the valve at one end, a flexible diaphragm at the other end of the member and forming a closure for the'casing outside the member, and means engaging the diaphragm for moving the member in one direction.

8. In combination, a casing having a plurality of passages opening at one end 01 the casing and a port between the passages. a valve in the passage at the inlet side of the port having guide means movable in the port. a spring normally closing the valve. a longitudinally movable member having guided movement in the casing at the opposite side of the port and at one end engaging the guide means to open the. valve, said casing having a flexible portion at the opposite end of the member. and means outside the casing engaging the flexible portion to move said member, thereby to open the valve.

9. In combination, a casing having an inlet and an outlet passage. the outlet passage opening at one end, and the inlet passage opening at both ends of the casing, the casing having a port between the passages, a spring actuated valve in the inlet passage for closing one end of the port, and means having guided moy'ement'in the casing at the opposite side of the port and extending into the outlet passage for {opening the valve.

10. In combination, acasing having an inlet and an outlet passage. the outlet passage opening at one end, and the inlet pasof the member, the casing havin a flexible portion at the opposite end of t e member, and means outside the casing engaging the flexible portion to move said member toopen the valve.-

11. In combination, a-casmg having inlet. and an outlet passage, the outlet passage opening at one end, and the inlet passage opening at both ends of the caslng, the casing having a port between the passages,

' a spring actuated valve in the inlet passage for closing the port, means engaging the valve to open the same when moved in one direction, a flexible diaphragm against which said means bears, and forming a closure for the casmg outside of the 831d means, and

' mechanism engaging the diaphragm for moving the member in a direction to open the valve. 7

' 12. A valve including a casing having longitudinally extending passages opening at one end of the casing, and a port connecting the passages near the other end, a valve and an operating pin therefor supported in alinementwith the port, aspring normally seating the valve, and operating mechanism outside the casing engaging the pin to open the valve. 13. A valve including a casing having longitudinally extending passages opening at one end of the casing, and a port connect-.

ing the passages near the other end, a valve and an operating pin therefor supported in 'alinement with the port, a spring normally seating the valve, operating mechanism outside the casing engaging the pin to open the valve, and means for sealing the space between the pin and the casing.

14. In combination with a two compartmentsteam chamber, a valve comprising a casing having longitudinally extending pas-.

sages connected near one end of the-casing 7 ing a easin by a port, the passages opening at the opposite end of the easing into the respeetlve compartments of the chamber,'a valve and an operating pin supported in alinement with the port transversely of the casing, a

casing, and the other opening laterallyv near the said end, the passages adapted to communicate-with the several chambers of the pressing machine head or buck, a valve mounted 'for movement transverse to the casing toward and from the port and normally closing the same, a pin mounted to move toward and from the valve for opening the valve, and means engaging the 'pin to move the same to open the valve.

16. A valve for pressing machines, includ ing a casing having longitudinally extendmg inlet and outlet passages, and a port near one end connecting sald passages,.one of the passages opening at the opposite end of the casing, and the other opening laterally near the said end, the passages adapted to communicate with the several chambers of the pressing machine head or buck, a valve for normally closing the port, a pin for opening the valve, and supports for the valve,

and the pin at opposite sides of thecasing and in alinement with, the port, said supports detachably connected with the casing.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 4th day of August,-A. D. 1926. I

HYMAN E. COHEN. 

